It's not the only performer that Merc has on the way however: the debut of the high-powered small sedan will follow the first appearance of the much-hyped A 45 AMG performance hatch in Geneva this month.

Both cars will utilise the same powertrain and performance components, with the 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing upwards of 245kW and 400Nm of torque.

With that sort of power on top, Mercedes has also promised that both models will feature all-wheel-drive systems and a solid seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.